Cold fusion

What Is Cold Fusion?
Cold fusion or low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR) is a low temperature nuclear reaction. Some experiments have reported that they had a reaction, while others have not been able to reproduce the results. Cold fusion or “Low Energy Nuclear Reaction” is a concept that uses heavy water and an electrode to create a small nuclear reaction; thus producing a clean renewable energy source. The concept uses electrolysis of heavy water on a Palladium electrode to produce; a nuclear reaction, neutrons and tritium. They reported that their experiment produced excess heat that could only be explained by nuclear reaction.

The cold fusion process has been a source of controversy since it’s proposed discovery in 1989, by Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann (internationally recognized electrochemists). In 1989, the two famed electrochemists theorized that their experiment could be a source of new clean renewable energy. Some doubted, and many were unable to repeat the experiment that they claimed to produce; neutrons and tritium. During the 1990′s the hype of this new energy source died off. There were still some experiments going on, but the concept did not have the media attention as it did in 1989. The history of cold fusion goes back long before Fleischmann, Pons discovery. The concept of transforming Hydrogen into Hellium is not new; as early as the nineteenth century scientist have recognized the ability of palladium to absorb hydrogen. Many studies on the subject have been done, but after sometime they have lost funding or closed their doors. Now, there are few studies in the scienific community of low-energy nuclear reactions;with little funding.

The inventor Andrea Rossi has patented a device; the Energy Catalyzer (E-cat) in April of 2011 – see http://energycatalyzer3.com . The Italian inventor Andrea Rossi claims the his E-cat device uses Nickel Hydrogen fusion to produce a low-energy nuclear reaction. Rossi has had the support of Italian physicist Sergio Focardi in his nickel hydrogen fusion device. The two Italian scientists have not been able to publish their paper describing how the device works in any peer reviewed scientific journal. The two have also not allowed the device to be test by a third party; creating doubts in the scientific community. The only documentation of the device is published on Rossi’s blog; Journal of Nuclear Physics. Though many third party journals will not publish the documentation; even after several attempts to due so.

Future of Low-energy Nuclear Reactions
It has been know for over a century that palladium can absorb hydrogen. There are great possibilities in the area of cold fusion, though there are few who are willing to risk their careers in this field. This is due to many not wanting to be ridiculed by their colleagues. The field lacks funding due to controversy and fall out. Though, some theories have been proven for over a century. It is politics and pride that get in the way of such a promising endeavor. Many of the studies have lost their funding or closed their doors and now there are few in the scientific community who are willing to risk their careers and reputation. There are and will be more experiments in this quest for clean energy.